Aayan Khan delivered a match-defining spell to power Gulf Giants to a six-wicket win over Sharjah Warriorz at the Dubai International Stadium, keeping the Giants firmly in second place in DP World ILT20 Season 4.
The left-arm spinner’s incisive 3 for 17 strangled the Warriorz in the middle overs, restricting them to 157 for 6, a total that proved just short despite a late flourish.
It was a spinning pitch and I’m happy to take a few wickets. Bowling four overs felt really good. I hadn’t bowled for a few games, so it was nice to get the ball again.
Gurbaz And Vince Blow The Chase Wide Open
The chase began at a furious pace as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and James Vince dismantled the Warriorz attack in the powerplay. The pair smashed 21 runs off Wasim Akram in the second over and sent five balls over the ropes inside the first six overs. Gulf Giants raced to 73 without loss, with Gurbaz (50 off 36) and Vince (35 off 28) putting the contest firmly in their favour.
Warriorz Fight Back Through Spin
Sharjah refused to fold quietly. Sikandar Raza and Adil Rashid applied the brakes superbly, conceding just 48 runs between overs six and 16. Vince fell in the eighth over, Moeen Ali was bowled by Rashid in the 13th, and Gurbaz perished soon after reaching his half-century. Gurbaz had struck four sixes en route to his fifty but fell attempting a fifth, leaving the Giants needing 47 off 39 balls.
Omarzai Keeps His Nerve
Gerhard Erasmus and Azmatullah Omarzai guided the chase through a tense finish. With eight needed off the final over, Omarzai launched Tim Southee for a six before falling next ball, having done just enough to ensure victory with two balls to spare.
Aayan Turns The Game In The Middle
Earlier, Sharjah Warriorz made a steady start through Johnson Charles (36) and Kusal Mendis (23), reaching 48 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.
The innings unravelled once the spinners took control. Aayan removed Charles, Mendis and Tim David in a devastating spell, while Liam Dawson’s economical 1 for 21 further tightened the noose. Mark Adair chipped in late to leave the Warriorz six down in the 18th over. A late counter-attack from Dwaine Pretorius (36 off 17), supported by Adil Rashid, lifted Sharjah past 150, but it was never quite enough.
Sharjah captain Tim Southee acknowledged the effort despite a third straight defeat.
The last two matches, we’ve been in it till the end. Going 0–3 is not where we want to be, but we have a chance in a couple of days to put that right. The spinners bowled really well and gave us a chance at the end.
Brief Scores: Sharjah Warriorz 157/6 in 20 overs (Dwaine Pretorius 36, Johnson Charles 36, Tim David 19, Aayan Khan 3 for 17, Mark Adair 2 for 22, Liam Dawson 1 for 22) Gulf Giants 158/4 in 19.4 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 50, James Vince 35, Azmatullah Omarzai 28, Sikandar Raza 2 for 20, Adil Rashid 1 for 21).
